crime watching week 5 bb.pdf

10/24/2012 1 Lecture Format ? Introduction – media and horrific crimes ? Review of ‘crimewatching’ on TV ? Examination of Crimewatch – history, format, victims and offenders ? The cult of American crime TV – CSI and Law Order a different kind of ‘effects’ issue ? Exploration of crime films – serial killer and psycho movies and gangster films ? Brief review of the causal link between violent video games and aggression violence ? Why blame the mass media for aggression/violence – the evidence is assessed Introduction ? Various forms of media have been attributed to ‘infamous’ and horrific crimes: – Jamie Bulger, 1993 – Columbine Massacre, 1999 – Virginia Tech University, 2007 – Batman Massacre, 2012 ? The view from the Left and Right ? Consideration of the evidence ? Transgresses fact and fiction (Schlesigner and Tumber, 1994) ? Inspired by sources from: – Britain (Police Five) – America (America’s Most Wanted) – Germany (Akenzeichen XY… Ungelost) ? The format and content Crimewatch UK ? Do not use reconstructions simply to attract or entertain audiences ? Do not reconstruct detail which there is no reason to believe actually occurred ? Filming techniques must not frighten or disturb audiences ? Do not reveal details which could lead to copycat crimes ? All reconstructions must be clearly signalled ? Reconstructions must minimise the distress caused to victims of crime, or their relatives ? Do not glamorise crime or criminals (Pengelly, 1999, cited in Jewkes, 2004:154) Crimewatch Tensions ? Tension between information and entertainment: “We don’t only focus on violent crime, but we are trying to help the police catch the more serious criminals, and a lot of serious crime involves violence. We agonise over everything we put in. But clearly we couldn’t do something where television wouldn’t help, where there’s nothing to film. A journalistic sense must come into it” (Guardian, 3/9/90). ? Impact of ‘crime scarers’ and adherence to news values (Schelsi